Managing disk drive replacements on mulitidisk headless appliances

ABSTRACT

A headless computer entity having a plurality of disk drives operates to self restore to a known state, upon failure of either a system disk drive containing an operating system of the computer entity, or failure of a data disk drive containing application data. Depending upon whether the system disk and/or the data disk are replaced by a replacement disk, the computer entity configures itself with either deletion of application data on the data disk, or with deletion of application data on both the system disk and the data disk. The computer entity determines whether a new replacement disk has been installed by comparing a signature of the system disk with a signature of the data disk. If a replacement disk is detected, then the digital signatures are set by the computer entity such that the system disk and data disk have a self consistent set of hardware specific digital signatures. Application data is returned to a known good state after deletion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of computers, and particularly although not exclusively, to a method of managing data storage device replacements on a computer entity having a plurality of data storage devices.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A conventional computer entity typically comprises a casing containing a processor, memory, input/output ports, a data storage device, e.g. a hard disk drive or the like, a user interface comprising a video monitor, a keyboard, and a tactile device e.g. a mouse or trackball, for driving a graphical user interface. Such computer entities are well known in the prior art.

One known type of computer entity, is known as a “headless” computer entity (also called a “headless appliance”). Known headless computer entities comprise a processor, one or more data storage devices, input/output ports, and memory, but lack the usual physical console user interface, that is they are not provided with a user console having a visual display monitor, mouse or keyboard. Headless computer entities are not generally intended to be used under direct human control or intervention. A known network attached storage device (NAS) is an example of a known headless computer entity.

Headless computer entities have an advantage of relatively lower cost due to the absence of a user console, and associated hardware for that console. However, because headless computer entities do not have conventional user interfaces for human interaction, and generally do not have ports by which conventional keyboards or video monitors can be connected, this creates specific problems if there should be a disk failure of a headless computer entity in the field, that is, after manufacture and once the computer entity has been commissioned in it's own operating environment.

Failures of headless computer entities in the field may give rise to a manufacturer service callout. A service engineer or a technician has a difficult task in repairing a headless computer entity compared with a conventional headed computer entity having a user interface as s/he cannot install software through Wizards or other operator-interactive installation procedures, because there is no physical, visual or tactile user interface console provided with the headless computer entity.

In a headless computer entity having twin hard disk drives, if a disk drive fails, then data may be lost. In a headless computer entity having multiple disks, there needs to be some sort of scheme to handle disk failure and replacement without the need for human intervention, other than physical replacement of a physical component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a computer entity comprising a plurality of data storage devices, to install at least one said data storage device, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   checking a first said data storage device for a digital         signature;     -   checking a second said data storage device for a digital         signature;

determining whether said first and second digital signatures match each other; and

-   -   if a discrepancy in signatures is found between said first and         second data storage devices, setting digital signatures of said         first and second data storage devices to be in a self consistent         set.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a data storage device comprising:

-   -   a data storage medium, said data storage medium pre-configured         for storage of code data comprising:     -   a primary operating system;     -   a secondary operating system;     -   a copy of said primary operating system; and     -   an installation component for automatically installing said data         storage device into a computer entity.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a computer entity comprising a plurality of data storage devices, wherein:

-   -   a first said data storage device is designated as a system data         storage device, which stores operating system files;     -   a second said data storage device is designated as a bulk data         storage device, for storing application data generated by one or         more applications of a said computer entity;     -   said method comprising the steps of:     -   checking each of said plurality of data storage devices to see         if said data storage device has been replaced following a last         re-set operation of said computer entity; and     -   if a said data storage device is detected, which has been         replaced since a last re-set operation of said computer entity,         then resetting said computer entity to a known state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided an installation procedure for installing a data storage device into a computer entity configured to contain a plurality of data storage devices, said installation procedure comprising the steps of:

-   -   (i) introducing into said computer entity a digital storage         device loaded with at least one operating system, and an         installation component for installing said data storage device         into said computer entity;     -   (ii) checking each said data storage device of said computer         entity for a signature;     -   (iii) determining whether all said signatures of said data         storage devices are in a matching set;     -   (iv) if said plurality of signatures are determined not to be in         a matching set, then determining which data storage devices are         already designated as system data storage devices, containing an         operating system and which data storage devices are already         designated as for storing bulk data;     -   (v) depending on the result of step (iv), designating said         introduced data storage device as a system data storage device         or a bulk data data storage device, so that within said         plurality of data storage devices there exists at least one         system data storage device and at least one bulk data storage         device; and     -   (vi) re-setting said computer entity to a known state.

In specific implementations according to the present invention a disk signature process is used to determine whether a disk (either a hard disk or a RAID disk) in a multidisk computer entity has been replaced. Setting of application data back to a manufacturing default state, including resetting databases, without loss of generic computer entity settings, such as network settings, security settings, date, time and the like is provided automatically.

The option to do a reset of a computer entity with user data deletion is provided in specific implementations of the present invention.

The computer entity comprises a plurality of data storage devices, for example hard disk drives, a communications port, and at least one data processor, wherein a primary operating system, a secondary emergency operating system, and a pristine uncorrupted copy of the primary operating system are stored on at least one of the data storage devices. The computer entity also stores one or a plurality of applications programs, which in use generate application data. The data storage devices are partitioned, and designated as a system disk, which stores code of the operating systems, and at least one data disk, which stores data, for example data generated by a plurality of applications programs.

In one specific embodiment, a computer entity has a plurality of disks, one disk being assigned as a system disk and another disk being assigned as a data disk. Each time a primary operating system of the computer appliance is booted, it is checked whether the individual signatures of each disk match each other, or are blank. Depending upon the results of the signature check, various outcomes are possible:

If there is no signature on a data disk, and no signature on a system disk then this indicates that both disks may be newly installed. In this case, the computer entity checks whether a partition structure on the new data disk matches an expected partition structure. If the partition structure on the new data disk does not match the expected partition structure, then the new data disk is automatically erased, and a correct partitioning is applied to the data disk. Once the correct partitioning structure has been applied to the data disk, then a unique disk signature is generated and written to both the system disk and the data disk. If a data disk contains a disk signature, but a system disk has no signature, then this indicates that the system disk has been replaced. In this case, the computer entity automatically deletes all files present in a secondary data partition on the data disk, and creates new disk signatures which are applied to both the data disk and the system disk, so that the new system disk and the old data disk are marked by the signatures to be in a coherent set of disks.

If the system disk contains a disk signature, but the data disk has no signature, or if both disks have signatures, but the signatures do not match, then this means that the data disk has been replaced, or disks from two different computer entities have been mixed on a single computer entity. In both cases, the application data on the computer entity may be corrupted, since it spans across both disks. Under these circumstances there is automatically performed a rebuild of a primary operating system of the computer entity, with all application data deleted. This returns the application data on both the system disk and the data disk to a factory default condition.

Specific implementations of the present invention may have advantages as follows:

-   -   If either a system disk or a data disk or both a system disk and         a data disk in a computer entity are replaced in an operational         computer entity in its operating environment, after a disk         failure, then the computer entity automatically synchronizes         both disks, including replacement disks, to ensure that         application data is consistent across both the system disk and         the data disk, by resetting the application data to a factory         default state.     -   During manufacturing of a computer entity, there is no need to         have specific system disks and data disks which are different         from each other, or which are specific to different slots in the         computer entity. Instead, every disk in manufacturing is         identical, and contains an image of a master system disk. A         manufacturing process is used to install both of these identical         disks into a computer entity, and then a computer entity boot         automatically initializes one of the disks to be a data disk.         This means that there is no risk of getting a wrong disk type         into a wrong slot during manufacture.     -   There is no need to stock separate system and data disks for         field replacement. A single generic system disk is used to         replace either a failed system disk or a failed data disk in a         computer entity in the field. If the stock generic system disk         is used to replace a data disk, then the computer entity         automatically converts the stock generic system disk into a data         disk in situ in the computer entity in the field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically in perspective view a headless computer entity:

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a hardware and firmware content of the headless computer entity of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically an arrangement of a plurality of disk data storage devices in the headless computer entity of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a plurality of operating systems stored on a system disk of the computer entity of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a partitioning of a system disk of the computer entity of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a partitioning of a data disk of the computer entity of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically application and operating system components used for carrying out an installation procedure for a disk component;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a process carried out by the computer entity for checking a digital signature on a system disk and a data disk;

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically a process carried out by the computer entity where a system disk having a signature is detected, and a data disk having no signature is detected, or a system disk having a signature and a data disk having a signature are detected, but the signatures on the system disk and data disk do not match;

FIG. 10 illustrates schematically a process carried out by the computer entity where a signature on a data disk is detected, but a system disk having no signature is detected;

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically a process carried out by the computer entity where a system disk is detected having no signature, and a data disk in detected having no signature;

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically a set of status flags, which are set or reset within the computer entity, for determining a recovery mode of the computer entity;

FIG. 13 illustrates schematically a reset with data delete process carried out by the computer entity; and

FIGS. 14 a-14 d illustrate schematically operations carried out by a primary operating system restore utility during a set process for re-setting the computer entity with deletion of data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

There will now be described by way of example the best mode contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

In this specification there is referred to a data storage device. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that a data storage device need not be a hard disk device, but may be any type of data storage device having read and write access, and the invention is not limited to implementations including hard disks, but rather, any data storage device having read and overwrite capability may be used as replacement for a hard disk. In the specification, by the term “disk” it is meant a data storage device which is a self contained replaceable manufactured unit capable of storing digital data, for example in magnetic, electronic or optical format. Disks may include well known magnetic rotating hard disk drive units, magnetic random access memory devices, re-writeable optical data storage devices or the like.

The terms disk and hard disk shall be construed accordingly in this specification as being an example of a data storage device.

Referring to FIG. 1 herein there is illustrated in perspective view, a headless computer entity 100. The headless computer entity comprises a casing 101, containing a processor, a memory, at least one data storage device e.g. a plurality of hard disks, or a RAID array of disks, or a disk mirror arrangement; a communications port connectable to a local area network cable 102; a small display, for example a liquid crystal display (LCD) 103 giving limited information on a status of the device, for example POWER ON, STANDBY or other modes of operation; optionally, a CD ROM drive 104, and optionally a back-up tape data storage device 105. Otherwise the headless computer entity has no physical console user interface, and is self-maintaining when in operation. Direct human intervention with the headless computer entity is restricted by the lack of a physical console user interface. In operation, the headless computer entity is intended to be self-managing and self-maintaining.

In this detailed description, there is described a computer entity embodiment having a plurality of hard disk data storage devices, where one hard disk is configured as a system disk for storing operating system files and application files, and another hard disk is configured as a data disk for storing application data generated by applications.

Referring to FIG. 2 herein, there is illustrated schematically an architecture of hardware and firmware components of the headless computer entity 200. The computer entity 200 comprises one or more communications ports 201; one or more data processing devices 202 as are known in the art; a memory 203 associated with the data processor(s); at least one data storage device 204, for example a hard disk data storage device, or an array of a plurality of hard disk data storage devices; an administration interface 205 comprising a web page display; a small display mounted on the casing, e.g. a liquid crystal display device 206; a plurality of operating systems 207 as will be described herein after; and one or a plurality of application programs 208 providing functionality to the headless computer entity.

Referring to FIG. 3 herein, there is illustrated schematically a hardware configuration of computer entity 100. Data storage devices 204 comprise a system disk 301, and a data disk 302.

The system disk contains a primary operating system, an emergency operating system, a copy of files of the primary operating system and copies of default data of the primary operating system. The data disk comprises a large partition area for storage of binary data as binary large objects (BLOBS).

Referring to FIG. 4 herein there is illustrated schematically operating system components stored on the system disk 301 of the computer entity 100. The operating system components comprise a primary operating system 400, which operates to control the computer entity under normal running conditions; a secondary emergency operating system 401, which serves to take control of the computer entity under conditions of primary operating system repair or installation; and a pristine back-up copy of the operating system 402, which is maintained in an uncorrupted state and which is not used operationally to run the computer entity, but is used in order to restore or replace the primary operating system 401 in the event of failure. The back-up copy primary operating system comprises a set of primary operating system files 403, and copies of default set up data 404 of the primary operating system.

Referring to FIG. 5 herein, there is illustrated schematically a format of a system disk 204, upon which operating systems 207 are stored. The system disk is partitioned into a logical data storage area 500 which is divided into a plurality of partitioned areas according to the architecture shown. A plurality of partitions include a primary operating system system partition 501 (POSSP), which contains key operating system files for initiating boot of the primary operating system; an emergency operating system partition 502 (EOSSP) containing key operating system files used to boot the emergency operating system of the computer entity, an OEM partition 503; a primary operating system boot partition 504 (POSBP), from which the primary operating system continues to be booted or rebooted; an emergency operating system boot partition 505 (EOSBP), from which the emergency operating system is booted, the primary operating system system partition and emergency operating system system partition being small “boot strap” system partition which are used to start the operating system boot process and then hand over the rest of the operating system boot process to the primary operating system boot partition 501 for boot of the primary operating system, or to the emergency operating system boot partition 502 for boot of the emergency operating system; a primary data partition 506 (PDP) containing an SQL data base 507, and a plurality of binary large objects 508, (BLOBs); a user settings archive partition 509 (USAP); a reserved space partition 510 (RSP) typically having a capacity of the order of 4 gigabytes or more; and an operating system back up area 511 (OSBA) containing a back up copy of the primary operating system files 512; and a raw disk partition area 513.

A first disk signature identifying the system disk is stored in the raw disk area 513 of system disk, outside of the remaining partition areas, so that processes which erase and re-create those disk partition areas do not affect the system disk signature.

Referring to FIG. 6 herein, there is illustrated schematically a format of the data disk 2. The data disk 302 comprises a second logical data storage area 600 partitioned into a secondary data partitioned 601 suitable for storing a plurality of binary large objects (BLOBS) 602, and a raw disk area 603.

A second disk signature identifying the data disk is stored in the raw disk area 603, outside of the secondary data partition 601, so the processes which erase and re-create the secondary data partition 601 do not affect the data disk signature.

The components shown in FIG. 5, are contained on each disk component, either in the factory during manufacture of the computer entity, or as a replacement disk component for installation in the field.

A field replacement of a disk drive comprises physically removing a disk from a slot in a hardware chassis of the computer entity, and inserting a replacement disk drive, which contains a master system disk template, the master system disk template comprising the partitions as shown in FIG. 5, and additionally within the primary operating system, an installation component which installs the replacement disk within the computer entity. Since the replacement disk has no knowledge of whether a failed disk in the computer entity was a system disk or a data disk, the installation component is capable of configuring the replacement disk into either a system disk, or a data disk. In the case of reconfiguration into a system disk, the installation component retains the primary operating system, secondary emergency operating system, and all the partitions and data content illustrated in FIG. 5. In the case of configuration into a data disk, the replacement disk re-partitions itself into one large secondary partition as illustrated with reference to FIG. 6.

In the headless computer entity having a plurality of disks, where one disk is designated as a system disk, for storing system data, including an operating system, and configuration settings, and another disk is configured as a data disk, for storing data, for example in the form of binary large objects (blobs), application data may be spread across both disks.

If one of the disks fails, then any replacement procedure for replacing a disk with a new disk needs to “tidy-up” the remaining correctly operating disk so that after replacement of the faulty disk, application data is synchronized with the remaining original non-faulty disk. Since the computer entity has no console, this cannot be done manually by an administrator. In the specific implementations of the present invention, when a hard disk replacement has been detected, the computer entity automatically tidies up the working non-faulty and synchronizes the new replacement disk with the existing non-faulty disk.

Referring to FIG. 7 herein, there is illustrated schematically application and operating system components involving an interaction between a plurality of applications 208 and the operating system 207 for replacement of a disk device in the computer entity, and implementing automatic installation of the disk device. The applications comprise a web administration interface 701 for presenting displays accessible by a web browser on a remote computer entity, for checking the progress of an installation procedure; a disk installation component 702 for managing installation of a hardware component in terms of reconfiguration of a hardware component, the disk installation component 702 running every time the primary operating system boots, the disk installation system controlling reconfiguration of the system to install replacement disk hardware; a primary operating system restore utility 703 capable of rebooting the computer entity, and a network provisioning component 704 for making or restoring network connections.

Referring to FIG. 8 herein, there is illustrated schematically a disk signature process which is carried out every time the primary operating system in the computer entity boots. Each disk carries a unique disk signature based upon an MAC address of the computer entity. In step 801, the primary operating system checks the system disk for a digital signature. In step 802, the primary operating system checks the data disk for a disk signature. In step 803, if a system disk signature does exist, then in step 804, it is checked whether the data disk signature matches the system disk signature. If both the data disk signature and the system disk signature match each other and form part of a self consistent set, then this indicates that the system disk and data disk are the same ones as previously installed and no hardware changes have occurred. Therefore the primary operating system continues to its next operation in step 805, and exits the disk hardware checking routine. However, if in step 804 the data disk signature is found not to match the system disk signature, for example because the data disk has a signature, but that signature is not consistent with the system disk signature, or the data disk has no signature, then this indicates that the data disk has been replaced, or a human user has mixed disks from two different computer entities. In both these cases, back up data on the computer entity is corrupted, so the computer entity is rebooted and re-set, with data deletion following process 900 as is described hereinafter.

If in step 803, a system disk signature does not exist, and in step 806 if a data signature does exist, then this indicates that the system disk has been replaced. In this case, the computer entity automatically deletes all files present in the secondary data partition 601 on the data disk and creates brand new disk signatures on both the data disk and the system disk so that the new system disk and the old data disk form a coherent matched set. In the best mode implementation all existing disk partitions are erased from the data disk, and are then re-created. A secondary data partition is reformated on the data disk, since this is faster than deleting all the files, and results in a “clean” blank secondary data partition. Additionally, if there are application data base files on the secondary data disk, then there may be copied any default secondary data partition data base files from the operating system back up area 511. This process is described with reference to FIG. 10 hereafter.

If in step 803, a system disk signature is found not to exist, and if in step 806 a data disk signature is found not to exist, then this indicates that both disks are newly installed. Under these circumstances the computer entity follows a routine as described herein with reference to FIG. 11, in which a new signature is created and applied to both disks.

Referring to FIG. 9 herein, there is illustrated a process followed by the computer entity where a system disk contains a disk signature, but a data disk has no signature, or if both the system disk and data disk have signatures, but the signatures do not match each other. This indicates that the data disk has been replaced or the user has mixed different disks from two different computer entities. In both cases, in step 901 a boot file BOOT.INI in the primary operating system system partition 501 is edited in order to force a boot from the emergency operating system boot partition 505. In step 902, a flag is set so that during a re-set operation of the computer entity, data deletion from the data disk is carried out. In step 903, a re-boot of the computer entity from the emergency operating system is carried out, and in step 904 a re-set operation involving deletion of user data on the data disk is carried out. A re-set with user data deletion operation is described hereinafter. The re-set with data deletion procedure is performed automatically without user intervention.

Referring to FIG. 10 herein, there is illustrated schematically a process 1000 carried out by the computer entity where a signature is found on the data disk, but no signature is found on the system disk. In step 1001, all files in the secondary data partition of the data disk are deleted automatically. In the best mode implementation all existing disk partitions are erased from the data disk, and are then re-created. A secondary data partition is reformatted on the data disk, since this is faster than deleting all the files, and results in a “clean” blank secondary data partition. Additionally, if there are application data base files on the secondary data disk, then there may be copied any default secondary data partition data base files from the operating system back up area 511. In step 1002, a new unique signature is created by disk installation component 702, which is written to the data disk in step 1003 and to the system disk in step 1004. At this stage, there is known default data on the system disk, since the system disk is new, and the default data partition on the data disk has been erased and re-created.

Referring to FIG. 11 herein, there is illustrated schematically a process carried out by the computer entity where a signature on a data disk is detected, but a system disk is detected which does not have a signature. Where this occurs, then this indicates that both the system and data disks are newly installed disks. In this case, each newly installed disk is already formatted with a partition structure as illustrated in FIG. 5 herein, and one of those newly installed disks is to be designated as a system disk, and the other newly installed disk is to be partitioned as a data disk as illustrated in FIG. 6. One of the disks is designated as a data disk and in step 1101, the partition structure on the data disk is examined, to determine whether the partition structure matches an expected partition structure of a single large partition across an entire disk. If in step 1102 the partition structure of the designated data disk is found to be incorrect, then in step 1103 the partition structure is erased, which involves erasing all content on the disk, including any operating systems within a master system disk template which pre-exists on the disk. A single data partition structure as illustrated in FIG. 6 is created in step 1104. In step 1105, any default application files which are expected on the data disk, for example data base files, are copied into the newly created partition from the operating system back up area 511. In step 1106, a unique disk signature is generated. In step 1107, the unique disk signature is written to both the data disk and to the system disk, so that the data disk and the system disk are labeled with signatures which identify the system disk and data disk as belonging to a coherent matched set.

Referring to FIG. 12 herein, there is illustrated schematically a state diagram for setting of flags within the computer entity. Three main flags are present, being a “system re-set; restore user settings” flag 1200, a “system re-set: manual initiation” flag 1201 and a “system reset: data deleted” flag 1202. Where the “system re-set: restore user settings” flag is set but the other two flags are not set, then a corresponding alert message may be generated that the operating system was automatically repaired after an operating system failure, but without any loss of back-up data. Where the “system re-set: restore user settings” flag 1200 and the “system reset: manual initiation” flag 1201 are set, then the corresponding alert message is that a system repair or update was manually initiated, but without any loss of back-up data. Where the “system reset: restore user settings” flag and the “system reset: data deleted” flag are set but the remaining flag is unset, then a corresponding alert message is that the system automatically repaired after a data disk replacement but back-up data could not be recovered and so was deleted. In other words, automatic repair resulted in a re-set with data delete. Where all three flags are set, then the corresponding alert message is that the system was repaired by a manually initiated update, but the back-up data has been deleted.

Referring to FIG. 13 herein, there is illustrated schematically a re-set with data delete process carried out by the computer entity, following replacement of a data disk in the computer entity. The re-set with data delete automatically re-sets the application data on both the system and data disks back to a factory default state. In step 1300, a boot is forced from the emergency operating system 401. The emergency operating system successfully automatically re-sets the BIOS boot counters in step 1302. In step 1303 whereby the administration interface 701, and optionally the LCD 103 displays an “initializing operating system rebuild/update” display. In step 1304, the primary operating system restore utility 703 is started.

Referring to FIGS. 14 a-14 d herein, there is illustrated schematically operation of the computer entity under control of the primary operating system restore utility 603, for performing a re-set of the computer entity with data delete. In step 1400, the primary operating system restore utility 703 overwrites the primary operating system boot partition 504 and the primary operating system partition 501 using the pristine copy of the primary operating system files 512 stored in the operating system back-up area 511 in step 1401. In step 1402, there is displayed on the LCD 103 the message “deleting application data.” In step 1403, the primary operating system utility 603 erases all partitions on the secondary data partition of the data disk (if present) and recreates a blank secondary data partition 601 in step 1404. In step 1405, the primary data partition 506 on the system disk is reformatted and in step 1406 compressed primary data partition default SQL server files, which are stored in the operating system back-up area 511 are restored and default application files are restored to the secondary data partition from the operating system back-up area. In step 1408, if the “system reset: restore user settings” flag is set, and the “system re-set: data deleted” flag 1202 is set, then in step 1410 it is checked whether a “manual re-set” flag is set. A “system reset: Manual initiation” flag is checked to be in an unset condition, and is unset if found to be “set”. In step 1412 an internal “Perform reset with data deletion” flag, which was used to initiate the data deletion, during reset is cleared. In step 1413, there is performed an automatic re-boot of the primary operating system, which sets a new system identification in step 1414. In step 1415, the network provisioning component 604 restores the network settings and system name, which are stored in the user settings archive partition 509. In step 1416, use of a new boot file to boot the SQL database, that is a new “SQLBOOT.DLL” file, avoids problems due to change of the system name. In step 1417, the “system re-set: restore user settings” flag is checked and if set, then in step 1418 client account information is restored along with application configuration settings and administration names and passwords, from the user settings archive partition 509. In step 1419, it is checked whether an archive signature is incorrect, and in step 1420 if the archive signature is incorrect, there are set user/configuration settings to default values. In step 1421, an alert message is generated alerting that the archive signature was found to be incorrect. In step 1422, an alert is logged based on the settings of the flags illustrated in FIG. 12 herein. In step 1423, all the special flags illustrated in FIG. 12 herein are cleared and in step 1424, any “hot fix” upgrade patches to the operating system stored in the operating system back-up area 511 are reapplied to the primary operating system system partition 501. 

1. A method of operating a computer entity comprising a plurality of data storage devices, to install at least one said data storage device, said method comprising the steps of: checking a first said data storage device for a digital signature; checking a second said data storage device for a digital signature; determining whether said first and second digital signatures match each other; if a discrepancy in signatures is found between said first and second data storage devices, setting digital signatures of said first and second data storage devices to be in a self consistent set; and re-setting said computer entity to a known state, wherein if: said first data storage device contains an operating system, and a digital signature is found on said first data storage device; and no digital signature is found on said second data storage device; then said step of re-setting said computer entity to a known operational state comprises: re-building a primary operating system on said first data storage device; and deleting data from said second data storage device.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first data storage device comprises a system data storage device storing operating system data; said second data storage device is assigned for storage of application data; and said step of re-setting said computer entity to a known state comprises: deleting data on said second data storage device; and applying a new digital signature to said first data storage device and said second data storage device, so that said first and second data storage devices are marked with digital signatures in a matching set.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if: said first data storage device contains a digital signature; said second data storage device contains a digital signature; and said digital signature of said first data storage device does not match a said digital signature of said second data storage device, then said step of re-setting computer entity to a known state comprises: re-setting said computer entity with deletion of application data generated as a result of at least one application program.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said step of re-setting said computer entity with deletion of application data comprises the steps of: under control of a secondary emergency operating system; overwriting a primary operating system partition of said first data storage device, to delete a previous set of primary operating system files; erasing a content of a secondary data partition on said second data storage device; erasing a content of a primary data partition on said first data storage device; recreating a set of data partitions to a first known partition configuration on said first data storage device; recreating a set of data partitions to a second known partition configuration on said second data storage device; restoring a set of application configuration settings from stored application configuration settings in a user system archive partition of said first data storage device.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein: if said stored application configuration settings in said user system archive partition are corrupt, then said step of re-setting further comprises step of: setting a set of user configuration settings to default values.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of: restoring default application data from a partition area of said first data storage device onto said formatted known partition structure of said second data storage device.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of generating a unique digital disk signature; and writing said unique digital disk signature to said first data storage device and said second data storage device.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of re-setting said computer entity to a known state comprises: checking whether a partition structure on said second data storage device matches an expected partition structure; if said partition structure does not match said expected partition structure, then erasing said second data storage device and formatting said second data storage device into a known partition structure.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said known partition structure comprises a single partition.
 10. An installation procedure for installing a data storage device into a computer entity configured to contain a plurality of data storage devices, said installation procedure comprising the steps of: (i) introducing into said computer entity a digital storage device loaded with at least one operating system, and an installation component for installing said data storage device into said computer entity; (ii) checking each said data storage device of said computer entity for a signature; (iii) determining whether all said signatures of said data storage devices are in a matching set; (iv) if said plurality of signatures are determined not to be in a matching set, then determining which data storage devices are already designated as system data storage devices, containing an operating system and which data storage devices are already designated as for storing bulk data; (v) depending on the result of step (iv), designating said introduced data storage device as a system data storage device or a bulk data data storage device, so that within said plurality of data storage devices there exists at least one system data storage device and at least one bulk data storage device; and (vi) re-setting said computer entity to a known state, wherein if in step (v), said introduced data storage device is designated as a system data storage device, performing the steps of: deleting all files present in a secondary data partition of a said bulk data data storage device; creating new disk signatures on said system data storage device, and wherein if in said step (v), said introduced data storage device is designated as a bulk data storage device, then performing the further steps of: rebuilding a primary operating system on a system data storage device; and returning application data on said system data storage device and said bulk data data storage device to a known default state. 